Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe has assassinated; PH mourned

Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe has died in hospital after he was shot at a political campaign event.

Abe was shot at twice while he was giving a speech on a street in the city of Nara on Friday morning.

Security officials at the scene tackled the gunman and a 41-year-old suspect is now in police custody.

The suspect, named as Tetsuya Yamagami, admitted shooting Abe with a homemade gun, and said he had a grudge against a "specific organisation", police said.

Several other handmade weapons, similar to those used in the attack, had been confiscated after a search of the suspect's house, police officers told a news conference.

Explosives were also found at the home and police said they had advised residents to evacuate the area.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday offered sympathy over the death of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, who the agency described as someone “greatly admired by many Filipinos.” “It is with profound sadness that we learn of the passing of former PM Abe Shinzo,” it said in a statement Friday. 

The department expressed its deepest condolences to the Japanese government and to the Japanese people “on his tragic death.” It also would like to send its “most heartfelt sympathy” to the late leader’s spouse, Akie Abe, and his family.